GeoExpress 8.5 supports MrSID Generation 4 (MG4™), the new version of the industry standard geospatial image format. With MG4’s support for compressing multi- and hyperspectral data you can use GeoExpress software to compress up to 255 bands of geospatial data to MrSID, select any subset of output bands from multispectral source images, and specify an individual compression ratio for each band or groups of bands. Whether you need to compress 4-band color images containing an infrared channel, take advantage of the latest 8-band satellite imagery, or compress high-resolution RGB datasets, GeoExpress has you covered.

 MrSID Generation 4 (MG4™) is the new version of the LizardTech^®
MrSID file format. In the years since MrSID first emerged as the industry
solution for working with large images, new technologies for analyzing the
earth have been developed and become commonplace in the geospatial
environment.

• MG4 meets the demands of current and future advancements by supporting hyperspectral imagery, LiDAR point cloud data, multiterabyte datasets, and other innovations. Geospatial professionals can use MG4 to losslessly compress their geospatial data, mosaic datasets together, color balance raster imagery, and manipulate data in many other ways.


• LiDAR data compressed to MG4 can be viewed in Merrick MARS, Overwatch LiDAR Analyst, ESRI 3D Analyst, and LizardTech's free GeoViewer. Raster imagery compressed to MG4 can be viewed with either of LizardTech's free viewers.

 Features and Benefits

GeoExpress 8.5 offers MG4 compression of raster data, adding support for multispectral data, alpha channels and improved mosaicking.

Customize Your Multispectral Imagery - With MG4’s support for compressing multi- and hyperspectral data you can use GeoExpress software to compress up to 255 bands of geospatial data to MrSID, select any subset of output bands from multispectral source images, and specify an individual compression ratio for each band or groups of bands. Whether you need to compress 4-band color images containing an infrared channel, take advantage of the latest 8-band satellite imagery, or compress high-resolution RGB datasets, GeoExpress has you covered.

Add true transparency control through support for alpha channels - Make portions of your image transparent or opaque so you have greater control over how your imagery looks, even at high compression ratios. You can also use alpha channels on existing compressed images to remove compression artifacts known as speckling. Images with alpha channels will seamlessly combine into artifact-free mosaics for accurate analysis and visualization in your favorite GIS applications.

Speedy creation and fast viewing of imagery via new mosaicking options - Previously, mosaics were either quick to create but slower for end users to open, or took a long time to create but opened rapidly in viewing applications. Now you can combine thousands of MrSID files without spending valuable time reprocessing them. MG4 mosaics open as quickly as a single image, so you save time creating images and your users save time viewing them.

Additional GeoExpress features:

GeoExpress is ideal for defense and intelligence agencies, GIS data providers, government municipalities, or any other organizations that rely on aerial and satellite imagery for critical decisions.

 Case Studies

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 Case Studies

Read how our customers are utilizing GeoExpress.

 Data Sheets

•  GeoExpress Data Sheet               ~ 782 KB

•  GeoExpress Feature History ~ 259 KB
  
  
•  GeoExpress 7.0 Best Practices Guide   ~ 201 KB
  
  
•  MG4 White Paper ~ 261 KB

•  Express Server 7 Data Sheet              ~ 1.5 MB

 System Requirements

Windows™

• 32-bit: Windows XP (SP3), Windows 2003 (SP2), Windows 2008 (SP2), Windows Vista (SP2) or Windows 7
• 64-bit: Microsoft Windows XP Pro (SP2), Windows 2003 R2, Windows 2008 R2, Windows Vista 64 (SP2) or Windows 7
• Microsoft .NET Framework (32- or 64-bit) 2.0 or later (included)
• Microsoft Management Console 3.0 (included)
• 1.5+ GHz Intel Pentium 4 Processor (2.6+ GHz recommended)

Linux™

• Red Hat Enterprise Server 5.0 or 6.0 (32-bit or 64-bit)
• 1.5 GHz Intel Pentium 4 Processor (2.6+ GHz recommended)

Solaris™

• Sun Solaris SPARC V9 9 or 10 (64-bit)
• Sun UltraSPARC IIIi (UltraSPARC IV or higher recommended)

All Platforms

• 1 GB RAM (2 GB RAM recommended for 32-bit; 8 GB RAM recommended for 64-bit)
• DVD-ROM Drive
• 200 MB free hard disk space, plus room for imagery

 Customer List

 Purchase Options

GeoExpress Unlimited Edition

Unlimited MrSID and JPEG 2000 encoding and powerful image manipulation tools.

• Starts at a suggested retail price of $8,500

GeoExpress Standard Edition

Level 1 - 100GB of annual encoding
Level 2 - 500GB of annual encoding
Level 3 - 1TB of annual encoding

• Starts at a suggested retail price of $3,115

GeoExpress Tools Edition

Powerful image manipulation tools for existing MrSID or JPEG 2000 imagery, including MrSID Generation 4. No encode capabilities for a low-cost, high-power, edit-only station.

• Starts at a suggested retail price of $1,615

GeoExpress Remote Edition

Unlimited MrSID and JPEG 2000 encoding and manipulation in a Terminal Services or Citrix environment.

• Starts at a suggested retail price of $10,500

Floating License Option

LizardTech's Floating License System allows you to deploy GeoExpress on workstations throughout your organization with a flexible, token-based licensing system such as the new commuter license, ideal for field personnel and workers traveling from one office to another.

• Starts at a suggested retail price of $2,015

 Frequently Asked Questions

What is GeoExpress?
With powerful tools for reprojecting, color balancing, mosaicking, cropping and more, LizardTech^® GeoExpress^® software is your first choice for manipulating and encoding your geospatial imagery to the industry standard MrSID and ISO standard JPEG 2000 compression formats. GeoExpress supports alpha bands for true transparency control and multi- and hyperspectral imagery for more flexible band utilization. The interoperability within LizardTech's Express Suite^® software means that you can configure Express Server^® and Spatial Express^® software directly from GeoExpress, making it the ideal command center for your storage and distribution workflows.

I've heard reference to "MG4," "MG3" and "MG2". What are they?
Those are MrSID format files with the file extension of ".sid." MG2 stands for MrSID Generation 2, MG3 stands for MrSID Generation 3 and MG4 stands for MrSID Generation 4. GeoExpress can create all three files with MG4 supporting the latest cutting edge technology from LizardTech, such as hyperspectral data, alpha channels and improved mosaicking.

Is GeoExpress backwards compatible with previous versions of MrSID?
Yes. GeoExpress can read all previous versions of MrSID and encode to MG2 and MG3 formats. The ExpressView Browser Plug-in utility can view all previous versions of the MrSID file format. ExpressView Browser Plug-in ships on the GeoExpress DVD and is available as a free download at www.lizardtech.com in the downloads section.

I want GeoExpress, but I'm currently using an older version. Can I upgrade or do I have to purchase the entire software?
If you currently are using an older version of GeoExpress, you can still upgrade to the new release. Please contact your LizardTech representative for details and/or any applicable promotional time periods.

What are data cartridges?
Data cartridges are binary encrypted files that enable you to encode images with GeoExpress. Cartridges are not a physical dongle or hardware lock. They are generated by LizardTech based upon your system ID and then emailed to you as an attached file.

What operations get charged against my cartridge?
Only the initial encode to MrSID file format or JPEG 2000 charges against the cartridge. Working with images already in MrSID format does not decrement the data cartridge. For instance, you can encode to a lossless MrSID file, which decrements the cartridge, and then use that MrSID file to create visually lossless compressed MrSID files that do not charge against the cartridge. Additionally, updating mosaics and creating mosaics of existing MrSID files do not charge against the cartridge.

Can multiple users in my organization run GeoExpress?
Yes. GeoExpress includes a network version of the cartridge manager on the product software media. Contact your LizardTech sales representative for purchasing additional encoders that can read from the network cartridge manager. If your workflow requires many people in your organization to share encoding tasks, consider GeoExpress Remote Edition, a licensing option that provides unlimited MrSID and JPEG 2000 encoding and manipulation in a Terminal Services or Citrix environment. Users can install GeoExpress on a central server and log in remotely to run GeoExpress. This is of great benefit since imagery can now be stored in a central repository so remote users no longer have to copy large images to their local drive. Multiple users can run GeoExpress concurrently and perform intensive image processing jobs such as compression, reprojection, or color balancing on the server, freeing up their local machine for other work.

How long will it take me to learn to use GeoExpress?
Unlike other image processing applications, GeoExpress is designed for the geospatial professional who is an expert in their field but is not an image scientist. A simple and intuitive interface allows new users to quickly perform imaging tasks so they can get their real work done, while powerful advanced tools support even the most demanding imaging expert.

Can I use all the tools in one encode operation?
Yes. You can mosaic, color balance, reproject, and crop your imagery, then export it for use in WMS applications in one operation. You'll save time by combining all of these processes into one encoding operation to get just the image you need, just when you need it.

Does GeoExpress work with other GIS applications?
GeoExpress is designed for interoperability with the widest range of leading geospatial applications from ESRI, Leica Geosystems, Autodesk and Intergraph, MapInfo, Bentley, and GE/Smallworld, to name a few.

Someone just gave me a .sid file. How do I know if it is an MG4 file?
GeoExpress 8.5 automatically installs an add-on to Windows Explorer that, when enabled, adds fields for the version, type, and compression ratio of MrSID files, so you can easily sort by MG4, MG3, MG2, or compression ratio. This extension may also be downloaded and installed separately by clicking here.

I've been happily using JP2 for my multispectral images for some time now. What is the advantage to using your new MG4 multispectral support instead?
MrSID Generation 4 is LizardTech's format, meaning that all software that supports MrSID does so through our Software Development Kit (SDK), providing consistent display and performance. There are many inconsistencies involved when using such a complex open standard as JPEG 2000. For example, a JPEG 2000 file may not display or behave consistently across all JPEG 2000 software because different manufactures must write their own JPEG 2000 viewers and writers, which may not support certain features of the JPEG 2000 specification.

I have an 8-band image I want to encode. Will it take 8 times longer than encoding a 1-band image? Will it take eight times longer to decode?
Yes it will take eight times longer to encode and decode.

I am using your alpha masking. Does that new alpha band get included in my data cartridge cost?
No. The alpha band is encoded free of charge.

 Preferred Data Providers

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 Preferred Data Providers